Majority Democrats may be able to crow over producing an on-time state budget, but that’s like claiming a trophy at half-time.

Though the Legislature passed the budget Friday, Gov. Jerry Brown and leading Democrats are still immersed in private talks to close out a number of divisive issues before they can seal the final deal.

Among those: So-called “trigger” cuts that would be automatically imposed if voters in November reject tax hikes, how to potentially erase 15 days from the school calendar, a 5 percent pay cut for thousands of state workers and ways to cushion blows to the poor and disabled.

Democratic leaders say their goal is to act on about 20 bills needed to implement the budget in the coming days, perhaps as soon as Thursday. Brown, also a Democrat, is reportedly sitting on the main budget bill until he sees the other so-called “trailer” bills. Then he can take his blue pencil and make deeper cuts, if necessary.

Brown has until June 27 to make up his mind on the budget and line-item spending vetoes.

The $92 billion general fund portion of the budget now before Brown reflects an increase over the current year level of $86.5 billion. But the proposed general fund is inflated by potential new tax revenues that may not materialize. The state also must shrink spending on services to pay off old debts associated with funding for schools, local governments and other programs.

Last Friday was the constitutional deadline for the Legislature to send the governor the 2012-13 spending plan. Failure would have meant the loss of pay, plus $142 in daily expense money for every lawmaker. Unable to finalize specific cuts in most cases, Democrats simply adjourned, leaving millions of dollars in spending unsettled. Some reports have put the governor and lawmakers $1 billion apart.

Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said he wants to wrap up the majority of the lingering issues by the end of this week.

Steinberg concedes there is another date — the Nov. 6 election — that is intensifying the pressure. He wants to resolve the budget and then move on to other pressing issues like pension reform before then.

A pension bill is not likely to emerge as part of the budget, but there is speculation talks could accelerate because lawmakers want to show voters a deal before asking them to raise taxes. Brown says his proposal for a quarter-cent increase on the sales tax and higher personal income tax rates for those earning more than $250,000 would raise about $8.5 billion annually.

Many lawmakers and the governor say voters sent an unmistakable message June 5 when they dramatically scaled back public employee pension benefits in San Diego and San Jose.

“Better to go to the voters united,” Steinberg said.

The Legislature is far from united, however. Republicans are relegated to the sidelines by Proposition 25 that permits the budget and related bills — but not taxes — to be adopted on a simple majority vote. They are voting no pretty much as a bloc. Before Proposition 25 was approved in 2010, a two-thirds vote was needed on the budget, resulting in weeks-long gridlock.